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Can zinc be a useful weapon against COVID-19?

here have been many articles T written and studies performed regarding the question of whether or not zinc can be effective against COVID-19 infections, either as a preventive or therapeutic measure. In this article, we will review these recent studies. By Jay Hardy, CLS, SM Zinc is the most abundant trace mineral President in the human body after . It is an HARDY DIAGNOSTICS important component in the structure March, 2021 and function of many and is involved in 10% of the human

proteome. It plays a role in gene transcription and the structure of many catalytic enzymes, and is involved in

biological functions including DNA synthesis, RNA transcription, maintenance of metabolic and immune

homeostasis, and many other cellular processes. (2, 10)

We know the elderly are more So what is an ionophore? It is a carrier susceptible to severe COVID-19 molecule that attaches to zinc cations to infections. There are also studies form a chelate; thereby facilitating zinc showing that, as we age, our levels of uptake by the .(1, 8) zinc decline.(5,7) Is this a matter of Among these zinc ionophores are causation or just correlation? We also derived polyphenols that attach to zinc know that zinc has been found in and increase the permeability of the cell numerous studies to be effective in the lipid membrane structure.(2) These alleviation of symptoms of many plant polyphenol ionophores include: respiratory viruses.(1, 2, 8, 10) (a bioflavonoid found in , grapes, and ), (ECGC, a bioflavonoid found principally in green tea), and curcumin (found in turmeric root).(5, 9)

However, there have also been studies showing that zinc is not effective against COVID-19.(4) How can this be? In addition, another potent and effective Recently, researchers determined that zinc ionophore is the anti-malarial drug, zinc alone has difficulty entering cells hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). (3,5) that line the respiratory tract; but, when Although studies have shown HCQ to combined with an ionophore, it can be ineffective against SARS-CoV-2, it readily penetrate the cell where it can is now believed treatment failures were do some good against invading viruses. due to 1.) HCQ being used without zinc, Once zinc enters the cell, it interferes 2.) The dosage was too high, or 3.) The with the polymerase that is responsible treatment began at a late stage of for the replication of the viral RNA. (1, COVID-19 infection when patients 2, 5, 6, 7, 10) were experiencing massive studied as a treatment for viral upper inflammation (the “cytokine storm”).(3) respiratory infections. Global prevalence of zinc deficiency may be as A recent study of 518 COVID-19 high as 20%. The WHO claims that patients showed that 2.8% of the one-third of the world’s population is patients treated with zinc, low dose deficient in zinc. Zinc deficiency has HCQ, and azithromycin became been demonstrated in diabetics and with hospitalized compared with 15.4% of increasing age. It has been estimated the untreated patients. Only one patient that 35% to 45% of adults over 60 years in the treated group died (0.7%) while old have zinc intakes below the 13 (3.5%) of the untreated group died. estimated average requirement. Almost Thus, there was an 84% reduction in 60% of elderly and nursing home hospitalizations and 80% decrease in residents in the U.S. showed decreased mortality.(5) zinc intake levels. (5, 7) Another study performed on 3,473 To conclude, a patients concluded that “Zinc with an review article in ionophore was associated with the journal increased rates of discharge home and Frontiers in a 24% reduced risk of in-hospital Immunology mortality among COVID-19 patients, from the Aachen while neither zinc alone nor the University in ionophore alone reduced Germany states, mortality.”(6) These studies “Zinc emphasize that, in order for the zinc- supplementation ionophore combination to be effective, improves the mucociliary clearance, treatment must begin within about five strengthens the integrity of the days from the onset of symptoms. epithelium, decreases viral replication, Zinc is not stored in the body, thus, preserves antiviral immunity, attenuates must be obtained through diet or the risk of hyper-inflammation, supports supplements. The adult RDA for anti-oxidative effects and thus reduces elemental zinc is 11mg per day. Zinc lung damage and minimized secondary has been shown to be an important infections. Especially older subjects, factor in respiratory viral pathogenesis or infections and zinc has been widely patients with chronic diseases, and most of the remaining COVID-19 risk groups would most likely benefit.”(7)

Although self-treatment of a potentially deadly disease like COVID-19 is discouraged, the use of zinc plus an ionophore as adjunct therapy, both of which can be easily obtained from any health food outlet, has been thoroughly tested and found to be a safe, effective and yet inexpensive prophylactic and therapeutic complimentary weapon in the arsenal against COVID-19 infection.(9, 10)

Figure 1: Showing how the combination of zinc and (CQ) can enter the cell through the membrane to interfere with viral replication.

References:

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32930657/ 2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7680693/ 3. https://c19study.com/ 4. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2776305 5. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jmv.26523 6. https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-94509/v1 7. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.01712/full 8. https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1001176 9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7680693/ 10. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S120197122030730X